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Titans TE Walker ready to face his former team

NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker says Sunday’s game will have an unusual feeling for him as he faces his former San Francisco 49ers teammates.

Walker spent seven seasons in San Francisco before signing with the Titans in March.

It will be “a little weird because I played with half of those guys for six, seven years,” Walker said Wednesday. “For me to go over there, and now I have to be mean to them, that is just different.”

Walker’s former teammates are looking forward to the experience.

49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers said he liked lining up across from Walker in training camp when they were teammates because he could always count on some good-natured trash talking with the big tight end. Back then, Rogers wasn’t allowed to retaliate with physical force.

Now he gets that opportunity.

“If we get a chance to hit one of our old players and let him know how good this defense really is … but it’s got to be smart,” Rogers said. “Delanie’s a good player, smart player, physical guy. He’s going to pose a challenge. We’re going to have to look out for him.”

Walker signed with the Titans in hopes of getting more passes thrown his way. Walker, a former wide receiver at Central Missouri State, never had more than 29 catches or 334 receiving yards in any of his seasons with the 49ers.

Through his first six games this season, Walker has been more of a focal point for the Titans’ passing attack. Walker has 20 catches for 185 yards and two touchdowns.

“Delanie is an easy guy to throw to,” Titans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. “He always finds himself open. He is a smart player. He is a very reliable guy. We’re seeing some of the reasons why they brought him in here. He is a tough guy to bring down at times. He is a very reliable target for us.”

Walker had a preseason goal of catching 70 passes this season, but he had knee surgery in the summer and began training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

“I think I’m on the path for 50 catches,” Walker said. “It is early. I think as the season goes and we start connecting more I’ll get back on that path. But right now, I’m just worried about getting these ‘W’s,’ man.”

The Titans (3-3) have dropped two straight since quarterback Jake Locker went down with a knee and hip injury three weeks ago. San Francisco (4-2) has won three in a row since consecutive losses to Indianapolis and Seattle.

Before this year, Walker had only known the 49ers, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2006 draft. Walker and former teammate Vernon Davis comprised one of the top tight-end duos in the league last season.

“Great memories - I had a blast playing with the 49ers,” Walker said. “I would never say anything bad about that organization. They drafted me. Even though I wasn’t a tight end, they dealt with me learning to be a tight end. Those coaches taught me a lot of things there. I always thank them for doing that.”

Notes: Titans coach Mike Munchak said running back Shonn Greene has a chance to play on Sunday. Greene has missed five games since injuring a knee in the season opener. … Linebacker Moise Fokou (knee) didn’t practice Wednesday and won’t play against the 49ers. Colin McCarthy will start in his place. … Safety Bernard Pollard (ankle) and defensive end Derrick Morgan (shoulder) also didn’t practice Wednesday. … Walker is hosting a private dinner and signing party Monday to benefit Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Walker has been working with MADD in honor of his uncle and aunt, Alice and Bryan Young Sr., who were killed in what police called a DUI-related wreck after the Super Bowl in February.

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AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this report.

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